Nashville’s urban landscape is experiencing unprecedented growth, with numerous commercial construction projects reshaping the city’s skyline. According to the Urban Land Institute and PwC’s 2025 U.S. Emerging Trends in Real Estate report, Nashville ranks as the No. 5 market to watch, reflecting its robust development trajectory.
For property owners and developers, effectively navigating the construction challenges inherent in Nashville’s booming urban environment is essential.
At Crain Construction, we bring decades of experience building in Nashville, even under the most challenging circumstances. We’ve learned that optimizing scheduling and site access is crucial for maximizing efficiency on tight urban sites. In this article, we highlight some best practices, supported by project examples, to ensure successful urban construction projects.
Best Practices for Site Access & Scheduling
Lay the Groundwork for a Smooth Build
Urban projects in Nashville each present unique challenges but share common goals. During the preconstruction phase, it’s important to understand the specific Nashville building code requirements for your project. This is one reason our pre-construction team takes the time to ask pertinent questions to maximize efficiency in all areas, including site access and scheduling.
Project Example: Our renovation of The Acme Feed & Seed required significant early planning because it’s in the heart of downtown and listed on the National Historic Register. From the initial concept discussions, we worked diligently to ensure the restoration of the vacant building met current codes and National Historic Register requirements.
Implement Smart Scheduling for Seamless Deliveries
Material delivery is a critical component of successful urban projects. Scheduling requires meticulous attention to detail, and sometimes creative delivery schedules or methods are necessary (e.g., just-in-time deliveries, delivery scheduling, and delivery accessibility solutions).
Project Example: The Aertson was a massive 800,000-square-foot project in an incredibly busy part of Nashville near Vanderbilt University Medical Center. To ensure access to the hospital and existing area businesses without disruption or congestion, just-in-time delivery was implemented for all materials, with most deliveries made between 4–5 a.m.
Proactively Coordinate Traffic Solutions
Managing the logistical needs of construction with the Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) requirements is also extremely important. Road closures often require a separate traffic control plan by a registered engineer, so addressing this during preconstruction is essential.
Project Example: During the renovation of The Fairlane Hotel in downtown Nashville, our team worked with Metro Public Works to develop a plan to keep pedestrian traffic flowing while the sidewalk was closed on the busy corner. Pedestrians were diverted to an alley and through the downtown Arcade without creating any inconvenience.
Focus on Building Relationships While Building Structures
Urban projects impact neighboring businesses and residential communities. For the sake of the long-term relationships our clients will have with their neighbors, we aim to assist with community engagement as well. Meeting with adjacent property owners and tenants well in advance of commencement allows the construction team to introduce themselves, exchange contact information, and inform them of what will happen during construction.
Project Example: Our TownePlace Suites project was located on a main urban corridor beside a local car lot. During construction, we recognized the potential for wind to blow dirt or debris toward the lot. Our team proactively built a canopy over nearby cars and even paid to wash cars that collected dust from the site.
Planning Your Next Project? Let’s Talk.
By implementing these best practices, developers can navigate the complexities of urban construction in Nashville more effectively, ensuring projects meet important milestones while maintaining positive relationships with the surrounding community.
If you’re considering a construction project in Nashville or the surrounding areas, reach out to our team to discuss our process and how we can help bring your vision to life.
